Controversial land alienable, heritable: HMT

Kochi, Feb 15 (UNI) The controversial 70 acres of land in Kalamasery is alienable and heritable, according to HMT and Blue Star Realtors.

HMT GM M C Poookoya said in an affidavit filed in the High Court here today that the land assigned to them was an absolute assignment. The 100 acres of land, exempted from the purview of land assignment act is alienable and could be sold, he added.

Mr Poookoya denied the allegation that the advertisement for Property sale was not published in local dailies. In 2001, it was published in two leading vernacular dailies, 'Manorama' and 'Matrubhoomi' and also in english dailies 'The Hindu', 'The Economic Times' and 'Times of India', he added.

He said HMT sold the land with Centre's permission and the Blue Star Realtors supported HMT in toto. The affidavit filed by their General Manager Balakrishna Madhur, said the HMT is having assignable and heritable rights in the said land, he added.

He denied the allegation that the land was sold in a meeting held between the Revenue and Industry ministers. The meeting was conducted only on June six,2007, while the land sale was made on October 17, 2006, he added.

He said the meeting was organised to settle issues with the trade unions. The company, however, approached the Chief Minister, Revenue Minister and the governmental authorities to expediate the mutation process, he added.